Partnered with a Survivor: David Mandel and Ruth Reymundo Mandel
Partnered with a Survivor is a professional-focused podcast created and produced by Ruth Reymundo and hosted by the Safe & Together Institute. What began as intimate conversations between Ruth and David Mandel—founder of the Institute and creator of the Safe & Together Model—about violence, relationships, abuse, and the systems that respond to them has grown into a global conversation about systems and culture change.
Hosted by Ruth and co-hosted by David, the podcast features in-depth, professionally grounded discussions about how institutions respond to domestic abuse, gender-based violence, and child maltreatment. Many episodes also feature global leaders working across fields such as child safety, men and masculinity, perpetrator accountability, fatherhood, and partnering with survivors.
Together, these conversations examine how systems often fail adult and child survivors, how societal narratives about masculinity and violence shape professional practice, and how intersectional realities—including cultural and religious beliefs, racialised identities, LGBTQ+ experiences, immigration status, disability, and other structural vulnerabilities—shape responses to abuse and violence.
The podcast offers an insider lens into how professionals navigate systems not only as practitioners, but also as parents and partners. Through candid dialogue and critical reflection, Ruth and David challenge the assumptions and structures that limit meaningful accountability, safety, and healing. The goal is collective movement across systems, cultures, and families toward greater safety, nurturance, and sustained change.
Disclaimer: Episodes contain sensitive topics and occasional mature language that may be difficult for some listeners. The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Safe & Together Institute or its staff.
Partnered with a Survivor: David Mandel and Ruth Reymundo Mandel
Latest Episodes
Season 7 Episode 16: The Myth of Perpetrator Accountability
“Perpetrator accountability” gets thrown around like a magic word, but when we slow down and look closely, it often means everything and nothing at the same time. In this episode, Ruth and David dig into why domestic violence system...
Season 7 Episode 15: Why Men’s Behaviour Change Requires More Than a Program Tick Box
The most dangerous sentence in domestic violence work might be the quiet one: “That’s not my role.” When a father is using coercive control, every service provider who meets with him becomes part of the safety net or part of the loophole. ...
Special Episode: A Safe & Together Expert at Your Side: The Digital Coach and Insight Engine
Most AI in social services promises efficiency and speed. The Safe & Together Institute cares about something much harder: helping practitioners make behaviourally accurate, domestic abuse–informed decisions when the stakes are child safety...
Season 7 Episode 14: Working with Your Partner: Family Business, Culture & Power with Aiwan Obinyan and Dr. Tamanda Walker
Is working with your partner a recipe for exploitation or one of the healthiest ways to build a meaningful, independent, well-resourced life? Many people hear "family business" or "couples in business" and think nepotism, blurred boundaries, an...
Season 7 Episode 13: Reproductive Coercion: Breaking Down the Hidden Signs with LC De Shay
Reproductive coercion rarely announces itself with a dramatic confession. More often, it shows up as a pause in the exam room, a quiet "I don't really have a choice," or a new mom who seems exhausted beyond what postpartum should demand. <...
Fan Mail
Hi David and Ruth. Thank you so much for this podcast. It was life supporting through my domestic violence trial against my abuser (who was a police officer) in 2020-2021. He committed suicide in 2022. Now that I am truly safe, I want to share my story, but I am not sure how. Thought I would reach out. Thank you again for all you do.
San Francisco, California